Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1887-11-26
PESSlMISM.

ally answered III the alllflhatlVe'
Yet as it is constantly asserted that
we are advancing towards higher
ciyili2ation-that we have many adj
yantages which our forefathers had
not, that We have comforts and priv
ileges which our forefathers never
thought of-there seems to be neon
sistency in giving an affirmative an
swer. Is an affirmative answer cor
rect? We think it is; and along
with the advantages of modern civil
ization are disadvantages which al
most if not more than counterbalancc
the benefits. 1t is not that the benefits
do not exist, but that the manage
ment of human affairs has not so
progressed as to diiTuso the full Ca
liabilities Of our civilization among
the whole population. 1t is the
custom of large section of those
who write to dwell almost exclusive
ly upon certain improvements or adj
vances we have made; but there is
no systematic attempt made to ascer-
tain whether the mass Of mankind
have the benefit of the discoveries
which have been made. The in
crease of our scientific knowledge is
extensively proclaimed. Our fertil-
ity in mechanical invention and
adaptation is continually paraded.
But the debtor side is entirely over
looked. 1t is seldom mentioned
that the great proportion of work
ingmen has been reduced to the po-
sition of machines. They are drilled
to attend to a machine which per-
forms a certain operation, and in
stead as in past terms making an
article they now only assist in max
ing a fragment of an article. Ma
chinery has taken away the indie
pendence Of those who live by their
labor and skill, as the great cost of
machinery completely prevents their
chance of getting out of their state
of servitude. In many other ways
is the present position of workmen
full of unfavorable and depressing
influences which cannot fail to de-
velop pessimism. And yet he who
writes a sensational novel is immedi-
ately lionised by an unthinking
horde Of mis-called aristocrats; while
he who works for the elevation of
the mass of his fellow-men and
women, who strives for their better
education and inst rights, is decried
by those in high place. Ought there,
under these conditions of life, to be
an increase of pessimism? Yes; and
am surprised that it is not tcn-fold
more than it is. The passive pes
simism which exists at present must
be educated and famed into u fierce
and relentless persecution of the ty-
rants who grind to death by poverty
and injustice, the mass Of mankind.
The mass of mankind have nothing
to lose but everything to gain 10y an
overthrow of the existing system,
under which the vilest of men ascend
to power and influence. How could
honest, kind hearted, amiable men
and women be otherwise than pes
simistic under a regime which favors
the success Of the INSCRIPTIONS, the
hard hearted, and cruel? For the
sake of rents the land-tyrants have
depopulated the country; for the
greed of gain man has been made
subservlent to machinery
Workmen may make themselves
more proficient in technical educa-
ton, but it will only be to maintain
their masters in luxury and vice.
1t is not the laborer but the capital
ist who oyerspreads the country with
vice. No one scarcely can succeed
unless they paader to capitalists.
The foreman, the overseer, the man
ager, are generally the harshest-
the bullles, in fact, in the capitalist
employment. Such undoubtedl y are
the characteristics of the men who
find favor with the employers; for
such men will naturally most readily
carry out the behests of the capita,
list, who is eager only for gain, and
cares nothing for the condition of
his employees.
For the sake Of gain there is q
strong tendency in this age to in
crease the artificial wants of man.
Men anxious only for their own gain